Methods and devices for playing board game

ABSTRACT

A modified chess game is disclosed including a game board having 81 squares arranged in nine columns and nine rows, wherein the first and second rows respectively define outer and inner wards for first and second players. Example game pieces for each player include a king, a housecarl, a templar, two lancers, two archers, two priests, and eight sentries, having initial positions, from left to right along the first row, a first lancer, a first priest, a first archer, the housecarl, the king, the templar, a second archer, a second priest, and a second lancer, and from left to right along the second row, four sentries in the first four squares, an empty square, and the remaining four sentries in the last four squares.

PRIORITY

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/669,092, filed on May 9, 2018, the entire contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to methods and devices for playing a board game similar in some respects to chess.

BACKGROUND

Conventional chess is a turn based board game involving different types of pieces having specific movement patterns and characteristics. Chess variants may make use of the underlying structure of conventional chess, albeit with significant variation or modifications to the board, the style of play, the pieces, and more.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments disclosed herein may include features relating to specific features of gameplay for a board game called “Castle Board Game,” Castle Crown” or simply “Castle.” These embodiments may build on the underlying turn-based structure of chess and other board games, and may include additional features including, among other things, fixed fortified components on the board representative of siege warfare, stationary game pieces, and moving game pieces with particular movement patterns and special features.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the following drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To understand the present invention, it will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example game board with pieces in the starting or initial position.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example king game piece.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example housecarl game piece and its corresponding movement.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example templar game piece and its corresponding movement.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example lancer game piece and its corresponding movement.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example archer game piece and its corresponding movement.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example priest game piece and its corresponding movement.

FIG. 8 illustrates an example sentry game piece and its corresponding movement.

FIG. 9 illustrates an example scenario for promoting a sentry.

FIGS. 10A-F illustrate an example method of assembling a game board for use with the game pieces of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 illustrates example starting positions of the game pieces on the game board of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While this invention may take various forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail various embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated.

Castle Crown (“Castle”) is distinctly different than all other variations of Chess.

In one embodiment, the position of the King may be in a fixed position on the game board. The King does not move. The board may be a 9×9 square board, containing 81 spaces on which game pieces may be placed. Some spaces may be inaccessible to one or more of the game pieces, depending on the type of piece and current status of the game. In other examples, the board may be a 9×11 rectangular board, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6.

The board may have two ‘Castles’ that include the last two rows on either side of the board. The first row of the Castle may be called the ‘Inner Ward’ (i.e., the row farthest from the center of the board). The second row of the castle may be called the ‘outer ward.’ The King may be positioned in the inner ward.

Two physical or imaginary walls may exist between (1) the inner ward and the outer ward, and (2) between the outer ward and the rest of the game board. These walls may restrict movement of one or more game pieces into the Inner and Outer wards of the Castle, thereby protecting the King's fixed position. In some cases, an opposing player may not advance and breach both walls in a single turn.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example game board with the initial positions of each piece. The pieces may include:

-   -   King—may be positioned in the center space of the inner ward.         This piece is stationary and may not move during game play. Each         player may have one king. The king is illustrated in FIG. 2.     -   Housecarl—this piece may be positioned initially to the side of         the King in the inner ward. In some examples the respective         housecarl's of the first and second players are positioned on         the same side (i.e., symmetrically, such that both are on the         left or right of the respective king), while in other examples,         the respective housecarls may be positioned on opposite sides of         the respective kings (i.e., asymmetrically, such that one is on         the left and one is on the right of the respective King). The         housecarl movement may include movement in any direction, for         any number of spaces. In some examples, the housecarl may move         in a given direction until it runs into another game piece. In         other examples, the housecarl may move through game pieces, onto         an open space. In some examples, the housecarl may be limited to         movement one space in any direction, while still being able to         hop over the King (e.g., movement of two spaces in that         instance, assuming the space on the opposite side of the king is         unoccupied). The housecarl may move freely between the inner and         outer ward, however if the housecarl is moved outside the outer         ward it is sacrificed. This may occur when the housecarl is         moved outside the outer ward in order to capture an opponent'         game piece. Each player may have one housecarl. Movement of the         housecarl is illustrated in FIG. 3.     -   Templar—each player may begin with one templar. The templar may         be positioned initially in the inner ward next to the king, on         the side opposite the housecarl. Movement of the templar may be         similar to the movement of the queen in traditional chess. In         some examples, the templar may move in any direction in a         straight line, up until it reaches another game piece. In other         examples, the templar may move through other game pieces on the         board onto an open space. The templar and it's movement are         shown in FIG. 4.     -   Lancer—each player may begin with two lancers. The lancers may         be positioned initially in the inner ward, on the outermost two         spaces away from the king. The movement of each lancer may be         similar or identical to the rook in traditional chess. In some         examples, the lancer may move in a straight line in any         non-diagonal direction for any distance until it reaches another         game piece. In other examples, the lancer may move in a straight         line in any non-diagonal direction for any distance, including         movement through game pieces on the board. The lancer and its         movement are illustrated in FIG. 5.     -   Archer—each player may begin with two archers. The archers may         be positioned initially in the inner ward, on the third         outermost two spaces away from the king (next to the templar and         housecarl). The movement of each archer may be similar or         identical to the bishop in traditional chess. In some examples,         the archer may move in a straight line in any diagonal direction         for any distance until it reaches another game piece. In other         examples, the archer may move in a straight line in any diagonal         direction for any distance, including movement through game         pieces on the board. In some examples, the archer may also         include movement forward toward the middle of the board by one         space on the first movement of the archer. The archer and its         movement are illustrated in FIG. 6.     -   Priest—each player may begin with two priests. The priests may         be positioned initially in the inner ward, on the second         outermost two spaces away from the king (between the lancers and         archers). The movement of each priest may be similar or         identical to the horse or knight in traditional chess (e.g., an         L shaped movement of one space in a first non-diagonal direction         and two spaces at a 90 degree angle from the first movement). In         some examples, the priest may jump over pieces in its way, so         long as the final space to which it is moving is not occupied by         another piece. The priest may also be able to enter both the         inner and outer ward of the opposing player in a single turn.         The priest may be the only piece with this ability. Further, the         priest may be camouflaged to blend in with the playing surface         of the board. The priest and its movement are illustrated in         FIG. 7.     -   Sentry—each player may begin with 8 sentries. The sentries may         be positioned initially in the outer ward, leaving the center         most space un occupied (i.e., the space immediately in front of         the king). The movement of each sentry may be similar to the         pawn in traditional chess. However the sentry may include         additional movements. The Sentry may move, subject to opponent         wall restrictions, two spaces forward per turn. The Sentry may         attack an opposing piece one space directly forward, but only         when the Sentry is attacking from within the outer ward of his         own Castle. The Sentry may make one-space lateral movements         within its own Castle. Further, the sentry may take an opponent         who hops two spaces to his side (e.g., an opposing Sentry moving         two spaced forward offset by one row). The Sentry may move         diagonally one space to take the opposing Sentry. This movement         may be called “En Passant”. All other Chess Pawn movement         restrictions may apply. The sentry and its movements are         illustrated in FIG. 8.

An additional move called the “castle” may be carried out under certain circumstances. The “castle” move may be carried out before either the Archer of Lancer on one side of the board have been moved, and after the Priest on the same side has moved out of its starting position, such that the space between the Archer and Lancer of the same side of the King is vacant. The “castle” move includes moving the Archer to the empty position between the Archer and the Lancer (i.e., the Priest starting position), and moving the Lancer to the Archer's starting position. The “castle” move may be performed on both sides of the board if desired.

Each piece can move backward into its own castle without any problem, assuming that movement restrictions specific to each piece are applied. Each piece also can only move into one ward of an opponent per move (either from the center of the board into the outer ward, or from the outer ward into the inner ward).

FIG. 9 illustrates the movement of sentries near the opponent's wall, and the feature that any sentry that enters the outer ward of the opponent can be promoted, similar or identical to the promotion that occurs in traditional chess when a pawn reaches the opponents end of the board.

FIG. 11 illustrates the regions of the game board (e.g., inner ward, outer ward, and theatre), as well as an example starting position for each game piece.

FIG. 1 also illustrates that the rows of the game board of the inner ward and outer ward may be raised, or at a different elevation than the center rows. Further, there may be a physical wall or border delineating the inner and outer wards. There may also be raised portions making up the sides of the game board, which may or may not include spaces on which game pieces may be positioned during game play.

Some examples may include physically providing the game board and/or pieces so as to enable players to physically move the pieces around the game board during play. However it should be noted that some embodiments may include providing the ability to play the modified chess game disclosed herein on a computing device. The methods and embodiments disclosed herein may be carried out on a smartphone, tablet, computer, or other computing device having a display and a user interface. One of ordinary skill in the art would understand that the concepts disclosed herein may be readily applied in a computing device context to allow players either physically together or remote from each other to play the modified chess game.

In some examples, the game board may be assembled in a particular manner. A sex step process of assembling the game board is shown in FIGS. 10A-F. In one example, two pieces of material (material 1 and material 2) may be selected such that they have different colors. The materials may be the same (e.g., wood, plastic, etc.) however they may be selected such that one is light colored and the other is dark.

The first and second materials may be cut longitudinally in step two, shown in FIG. 10B, in order to create a plurality of narrow strips of the first and second materials. Step 3, shown in FIG. 10C, may include sequencing the first and second materials such that they alternate between the first material and the second material. The strips may be joined together in any suitable manner, including mechanical components (e.g., nails, screws, etc.) as well as glues or other adhesives.

In step 4, shown in FIG. 10D, the combined material from step 3 may be cut perpendicular to the direction of the strips, to create a plurality of squares, rectangles, or other such shapes alternating between the first material and the second material.

In step 5, shown in FIG. 10E, the strips from step 4 may be rotated such that adjacent strips have opposite positioning of the first and second materials.

In step 6, shown in FIG. 10F, the strips of step 5 may then be affixed to each other in a manner similar or identical to step 3. In some examples, the outermost strips may be raised slightly with respect to adjacent strips, so as to create the inner and outer wards described herein. In addition, some examples may include affixing a raised wall to a top or bottom of one or more of the strips, or between two strips so as to defined the inner and outer wards as described herein.

It should be understood that the descriptions, examples, methods, and other disclosure provided herein show possible examples of implementations and merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the invention. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment(s) without substantially departing from the spirit and principles of the techniques described herein. All modifications are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and protected by the following claims. 

1. A modified chess game comprising; a game board having 81 squares arranged in nine columns and nine rows, the squares having alternating colors, wherein the first and second rows respectively define a first outer ward and a first inner ward for a first player, and the eighth and ninth rows respectively define a second inner ward and a second outer ward for a second player; and first and second sets of game pieces corresponding respectively to the first and second players, each set of game pieces comprising a king, a housecarl, a templar, two lancers, two archers, two priests, and eight sentries, wherein an initial position of the first set of game pieces comprises, from left to right along the first row, a first lancer, a first priest, a first archer, the housecarl, the king, the templar, a second archer, a second priest, and a second lancer, and from left to right along the second row, four sentries in the first four squares, an empty square, and the remaining four sentries in the last four squares, and wherein an initial position of the second set of game pieces mirrors the first set and is positioned in the eighth and ninth rows.
 2. The modified chess game of claim 1, wherein the third through seventh rows define a theatre, and wherein the first and second inner wards are raised with respect to the theatre.
 3. The modified chess game of claim 1, wherein the first and second outer wards are raised with respect to the first and second inner wards.
 4. The modified chess game of claim 1, wherein the third through seventh rows define a theatre, and wherein the first and second inner wards are raised with respect to the theatre, and the first and second outer wards are raised with respect to the first and second inner wards.
 5. The modified chess game of claim 1, wherein the third through seventh rows define a theatre, and wherein the game board includes two raised walls respectively separating the first and second inner wards from the theatre.
 6. The modified chess game of claim 1, wherein the game board includes two raised walls separating the first and second outer wards from the first and second inner wards respectively.
 7. The modified chess game of claim 1, wherein the third through seventh rows define a theatre, and wherein the game board includes a first set of two raised walls respectively separating the first and second inner wards from the theatre, and a second set of two raised walls separating the first and second outer wards from the first and second inner wards respectively.
 8. A method of playing a modified chess game comprising: providing a game board having 81 squares arranged in nine columns and nine rows, the squares having alternating colors, wherein the first and second rows respectively define a first outer ward and a first inner ward for a first player, the third through seventh rows define a theatre, and the eighth and ninth rows respectively define a second inner ward and a second outer ward for a second player; and providing first and second sets of game pieces corresponding respectively to the first and second players, each set of game pieces comprising a king, a housecarl, a templar, two lancers, two archers, two priests, and eight sentries; initially positioning the first set of game pieces at a start of the game, from left to right along the first row, in an order comprising a first lancer, a first priest, a first archer, the housecarl, the king, the templar, a second archer, a second priest, and a second lancer, and from left to right along the second row in an order comprising four sentries in the first four squares, an empty square, and the remaining four sentries in the last four squares; and initially positioning the second set of game pieces at the start of the game in an order mirroring the first set of game pieces, in the eighth and ninth rows.
 9. The method of claim 8, further comprising formatting rules of movement for play wherein each king may not move.
 10. The method of claim 8, further comprising formatting rules of movement for play wherein each housecarl may (i) move one square in any direction within the corresponding inner ward and outer ward, and (ii) jump over the king from one side to the other.
 11. The method of claim 8, further comprising formatting rules of movement for play wherein each housecarl may capture an opposing game piece positioned in the theatre within one space from the housecarl, and by moving to the theatre to attack the housecarl is sacrificed.
 12. The method of claim 8, further comprising formatting rules of movement for play wherein each templar may (i) move any number of spaces in a single linear direction, and (ii) move into the opposing outer ward only when it is positioned in the opposing inner ward.
 13. The method of claim 8, further comprising formatting rules of movement for play wherein each lancer may (i) move any number of spaces in a single direction either forward, backward, left, or right, and (ii) move into the opposing outer ward only when it is positioned in the opposing inner ward.
 14. The method of claim 8, further comprising formatting rules of movement for play wherein each archer may (i) move any number of spaces in a single direction diagonally, and (ii) move into the opposing outer ward only when it is positioned in the opposing inner ward.
 15. The method of claim 8, further comprising formatting rules of movement for play wherein each priest may (i) move two squares in a first direction that is either forward, backward, left, or right, and one square in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and (ii) move directly into the opposing outer ward from a position in the theatre.
 16. The method of claim 8 further comprising formatting rules of movement for play wherein each sentry may (i) move one or two spaces forward onto an unoccupied square, (ii) move diagonally one square to capture an opposing game piece, (iii) move forward one square from the corresponding inner ward to capture an opposing game piece positioned in the theatre, and (iv) move left or right one square within the corresponding inner ward to an unoccupied square.
 17. The method of claim 1, further comprising formatting rules of movement for play wherein each player may perform a castle move when a first lancer and a first archer on the same side of a corresponding king are in their initial positions and a first priest initially positioned between the first lancer and first archer has been moved, the castle move comprising: moving the first archer to the initial position of the first priest; and moving the first lancer to the initial position of the first archer.
 18. The method of claim 1, further comprising formatting rules of movement for play wherein each sentry may perform an en passant move.
 19. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium, having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause performance of a set of acts comprising: providing a game board having 81 squares arranged in nine columns and nine rows, the squares having alternating colors, wherein the first and second rows respectively define a first outer ward and a first inner ward for a first player, the third through seventh rows define a theatre, and the eighth and ninth rows respectively define a second inner ward and a second outer ward for a second player; and providing first and second sets of game pieces corresponding respectively to the first and second players, each set of game pieces comprising a king, a housecarl, a templar, two lancers, two archers, two priests, and eight sentries; initially positioning the first set of game pieces at a start of the game, from left to right along the first row, in an order comprising a first lancer, a first priest, a first archer, the housecarl, the king, the templar, a second archer, a second priest, and a second lancer, and from left to right along the second row in an order comprising four sentries in the first four squares, an empty square, and the remaining four sentries in the last four squares; and initially positioning the second set of game pieces at the start of the game in an order mirroring the first set of game pieces, in the eighth and ninth rows. 